Good day for Giants prospects Edwin Escobar, Gary Brown

Updated 7:42 am, Saturday, March 1, 2014

Giants left-hander Edwin Escobar pitches during a six-up, six-down start against the A's.

Giants left-hander Edwin Escobar pitches during a six-up, six-down start against the A's.

Photo: Lance Iversen, Reuters

Good day for Giants prospects Edwin Escobar, Gary Brown

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Phoenix --

To hear the scouts tell it, the Giants are a team with no depth. Just a couple of long-term injuries could prove their undoing, and on certain nights, the fan experience will be a little bit like learning that Billy Crystalgot sick on the night of a one-man show. "But don't fret, everybody - standing in for Billy tonight, the fabulous Carrot Top."

The common perception of the Giants' reserves - weak bench, no immediate help coming from the minor leagues - won't change until convincing proof comes forth. That's why bench coach Ron Wotuswas a particularly interested spectator Friday as he managed a split-squad team taking on the A's in Phoenix.

Left-hander Edwin Escobardrew the start, and unlike the fully experimental Sergio Romoin Wednesday's exhibition opener (never throwing the slider), Escobar badly needs to make an impression. He's said to be the first in line if the Giants call up a rotation pitcher from the minors, having posted ERAs of 2.89 (Class A San Jose) and 2.67 (Double-A Richmond) last year.

"I feel ready right now," Escobar proclaimed upon reporting to camp, and he wasn't fooling around against the A's. Throwing nothing but fastballs, mostly around 91 to 92 mph, he routinely retired all six batters he faced.

Outfielder Gary Brown, batting leadoff Friday, has an awful lot to prove. As the 2013 season concluded, the Giants were highly disappointed in his batting average (.231 at Triple-A Fresno), his on-base percentage (.286), his tendency to get caught stealing, his inability to draw a walk, his batting stance and even his attitude on occasion (one evaluator reported that Brown "doesn't always play hard.")

The scorecard: Brown reached base four times Friday, including a walk. He laced a run-scoring single off Jarrod Parker and hustled out an infield hit on a grounder to short. He stole a base and probably had another one in the bag, had the batter not drawn a walk. He still stands in there with the bat too close to his body, so he's obviously reluctant to change, but he left the field with a very dirty uniform. For a man hoping this is a brand-new year, not a bad start.

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